Dozens of people were murdered in a suicide explosion during a political gathering in Pakistan.

Tragic Incident in North-Western Pakistan Leaves at Least 44 Dead and Nearly 200 Injured

In a devastating suicide bombing during a political gathering of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, at least 44 people were killed and nearly 200 others were injured, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred on Sunday in the volatile district of Bajaur in north-western Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, where the JUI-F had organized a congregation.

Immediate responsibility for the attack has not been claimed yet.

Local police reported that the suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden jacket in the vicinity of the stage, where several senior party leaders were present. Preliminary investigations suggest that the ISI-linked (Inter-Services Intelligence) group could be behind this attack, and officers are currently conducting further inquiries.

Since the fall of President Ashraf Ghani’s government, armed groups have become active in the bordering regions of Afghanistan. They are opposing the Taliban administration and their members have sought refuge in the mountainous border areas near Peshawar.

Firoz Jamal, the provincial information minister, informed the Associated Press news agency that the attack had left 44 “martyrs” and approximately 200 injured.

Nazir Khan, a district police officer, stated that emergency had been declared at hospitals in Bajaur and the surrounding areas, as most of the injured were rushed there. The more critical cases were airlifted to hospitals in the regional capital, Peshawar.

Adam Khan, 45, who survived the explosion by taking cover under debris, described the harrowing scene, “Dust and smoke were all around, and I could barely stand. I could only see some wounded people beneath me. I had only minor scratches and some splinters on my feet and both hands.”

Akhatar Hayat Gandapur, the Inspector-General of Police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stated that senior JUI-F leader, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, was not present at the event during the explosion.

The JUI-F is part of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance, a political coalition aligned against the government, with Rahman playing a prominent role.

“Deeply Saddened” – Pakistani Leaders React

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the incident, expressing deep condolences to the families of the deceased, including JUI-F leader JUI-F leader Jiyaul Haq Jan, as reported by Radio Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also expressed his “profound grief” for the loss of valuable lives, as reported by Pakistan People’s Party.

He further stated, “Terrorism, its abettors, and planners must be eradicated to establish peace in the country.”

State Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed strongly condemned the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Pakistani Taliban, for the recent bombing.

“This kind of crime is never justifiable,” he wrote on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

He added, “Eliminating terrorism in Pakistan and ensuring its integrity is crucial.”

TTP – A Decade-Long Adversary of the Pakistani State

Nizam Salajai, a journalist from the independent news outlet The Khorasan Diary, reported that in the past two years, the JUI-F had been targeted by the TTP group.

Salajai said, “The TTP has problems even with the Afghan Taliban and anyone who supports their cause.”

If the TTP is proven responsible for the ISI-led attacks, he added, “It means Pakistan will have to fight on multiple fronts to thwart such attacks in the future.”

Abdul Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said that there had been an attempt to remove the JUI-F from the field a decade ago before the upcoming parliamentary elections, but he clarified that the national strategy would not be disrupted by this incident.

“We have lost many colleagues in this incident, and many others are injured. I will urge the federal and provincial administrations to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and provide appropriate compensation and medical facilities for the affected,” Rasheed said.

The incident has left Pakistan in deep sorrow, and calls for a united front against terrorism to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.